On the March

Nat scrambled to get his gear together. It mostly consisted of a couple blankets, a bag of personal odds and ends from home, and his weapons. Each of them had, as their main weapon, a bow and a quiver always stocked with 30 arrows, a spear, and a short sword. Not that Nat knew how to use the sword very well. He supposed that they would start learning more sword drills soon enough but so far the focus had been on their archery and on moving in formation. The 101st quickly broke down camp and formed in front of their Lieutenant. There was a shouted order to "Fo'wad Mawch!" and they began clanking their way along the drill grounds. Dyl, beside Nat, gasped when he saw their destination. Thousands of soldiers were being marched to and fro taking up positions according to the unit's experience and prestige. They were marched toward the end of the line and halted facing another company. There must be over ten thousand soldiers here, Nat wondered to himself. There was path through all the battalions right down the center. There was a sounding of trumpets and bugles and suddenly a party of horsemen began to ride down the path straight through the ranks. The rider in the lead was a huge man. He had large, broad shoulders covered in plated armor, and powerful arms which almost rippled with muscles even wearing full armor over them. His whole posture bespoke of power and strength but most of all his eyes. They were keen and seemed to read the strength his men had and take in every detail from a dull spear head to an ill-polished breastplate. He must be General Bledious, High Commander of the 3rd Army, Guardian of Chiriath Mul. He rode down the line studying each soldier he encountered quickly but thoroughly. Finally upon reaching the end of the troops he turned. The sun was setting at his back and he shouted to the troops gathered.

"The Siltinians have besieged Surdilea. Are we going to sit here and wait while they take our families? Livestock? Women? Children? NO! We shall teach those filthy Siltinians once and for all that they do not mess with Marovia! We shall drive them from our homeland and beyond the border back to where they came from! We shall defeat them and give them a lesson in warfare! We shall prevail!" At those words all the troops began to shout and cheer. The General paused until the soldiers quieted. "I have just received word that Surdilea needs our help immediately. Surdilea is only 100 miles north of us. Why do we tarry? We march now for Surdilea and war!" There were cheers, even Nat cheered but as he began to ponder it he realized that not only were they going to have to cover 100 miles quite rapidly, they were going to be marching over night and during the day most likely. Suddenly Nat began to dread the upcoming days leading up the battle that was sure to come. Would he be able to stand up to the Siltinian cavalry? The dusk grew deeper and the army began to march off into the twilight. Nat no longer wondered why many soldiers returned home broken and exhausted. Now he began to wonder if he would end up that way.